AW Hainsworth hosts mental health event for employers

By

-

March 14, 2024

AW Hainsworth, a British fabric manufacturer and woollen mill based in Stanningley Bottom, is hosting an event for employers to learn about supporting mental health at work.

The event, in partnership with Leeds Mind, is part of their national initiative to support employers’ positive approach to mental health at work.

The session will bring up to 20 local employers together to hear about AW Hainsworth’s journey with overcoming stigma and supporting mental health at work.

AW Hainsworth has signed the Mindful Employer charter, a public declaration of its ambition to support the mental well-being of its staff, and is part of the Leeds Mindful Employer Network, commissioned by Leeds City Council. The specialist textile company was recently recognised as the Leeds Mindful Employer Network Member of the Quarter.

In recent years, they have introduced menopause training for all management staff, mental health first aid training, and external mental health support as part of their commitment and investment in workplace well-being.

Amanda McLaren, managing director at AW Hainsworth, said: “We’ve invested significantly in supporting positive mental health and wellbeing at work, so it’s always nice to be recognised for our efforts. Although there’s still so much more we plan to do to champion positive mental health, we hope our journey will inspire other business leaders to drive action and change within their organisations.

“Being a part of the Leeds Mindful Employer Network helps equip us with the knowledge and skills to create a mindful work environment for all our employees. It also gives us the opportunity to learn from and network with other businesses on the same path as us.”

The Leeds Mindful Employer Network brings over 700 local employers together to champion positive mental health at work and share ideas and discussions. It is a unique offer to Leeds, putting the city at the forefront of initiatives to promote workplace mental health and wellbeing.

Sponsored content

Open meeting will discuss Stanningley Park improvements

By

westleedslife

-

March 14, 2024

0

stanningley-park-benches — Stanningley Park

Volunteers from The Friends of Stanningley Park group are inviting all local residents and businesses to attend their next open forum meeting to discuss ways to improve the park.

The meeting provides a chance to discuss ideas and give people a chance to get more involved in the group.

Councillor Kevin Ritchie (Lab, Bramley & Stanningley) will be providing updates regarding the ongoing improvements from the council as well as talking about potential funding and proposals for community led events. Everyone is welcome to attend.

“This is an open meeting and I would encourage as many people as possible to come along and get involved,” said Cllr Ritchie. “I am looking forward to seeing the community getting involved and helping to progress development in the park.”

The Friends of Stanningley Park group is a newly formed group of volunteers who are trying to make a difference to the green space. They are actively seeking more members who are willing to get hands dirty with litter picking, planting trees and organising fun community events. They are also seeking the support of businesses who may be able to help with small amounts of funding or donations of materials or raffle prizes etc.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, 19 March, 6pm to 7pm at St John’s Methodist Church, Bright Street, Stanningley. The event can be found on Facebook or e-mail friendsofstanningleypark@gmail.com for more details.

WLD reported earlier this week on the council’s Inner West Community Committee approving a £36,000 grant towards a revamp of a run-down multi-use games area (MUGA) in Stanningley Park.

Sponsored content

Bramley Baths partnership 1 — www.bramleybaths.co.uk

Meet the new owners of Farsley DIY shop – as much-loved couple retire after 42 years

By

westleedslife

-

March 13, 2024

3

Homeconomy farsley — Luna the dog with new Homeconomy owners Chris and Gaynor Preston-Routledge (left) and former owners Helen and Glenn Parker (right). Photo: John Baron

A popular couple are retiring after 42 years of running their hardware store in Farsley.

Homeconomy, on Town Street, has been loved and owned by Helen and Glenn Parker since 1982, selling everything from pencil sharpeners to step ladders.

The business has survived some really tough economic times – including recessions and the Covid pandemic – and after two years of being for sale it has been bought by a new couple called Chris and Gaynor Preston-Routledge.

Although Helen and Glenn are looking forward to retirement and carrying out DIY at home, they are both still heavily involved at Homeconomy as they hand over the business to the new owners.

Helen told WLD: “I am so happy that a lovely and kind couple has taken the business on. We have built the place up for 42 years. We know that it is going to stay the same traditional store it is now, as well as looking to the future.

“We’ve loved it here. The people of Farsley are really lovely, and it’s always been a busy – it’s a good little shop.”

Helen recalls the story of htheir marriage in 1984 – they married on a Tuesday as it was a half-day closing for the shop.

“I will miss the customers without any shadow of a doubt,” she added. “Over 42 years we have got to know different generations – the grandparents, their children and the grandchildren.”

Gaynor, who runs Allura Furnishings at nearby Cape Mills in Coal Hill Lane, said: “I have lived in Farsley all my life and always thought it would be nice to run a shop. I also restore furniture, and we’ve always come here to buy things I need for that business. It’s always had everything we needed.

“Every so often I would look at shops to buy and one day I went ‘oh!’ as soon as I saw this place popped up.”

Gaynor has fond memories of the place. “I always knew if Helen and Glenn didn’t have it in the shop then they would know where to get it, and if they didn’t know where to get it then it probably didn’t exist!

“This place is like a Tardis when you come in, every inch is filled with stock, and every room upstairs is full of stock, too! It’s a real Aladdin’s cave. There is stuff everywhere, often up to the ceilings upstairs.”

Gaynor and Chris aim to keep the business as it is now. “It doesn’t feel real while they are both still here helping us – it doesn’t feel like it’s ours yet. The number of people who have come in to wish us well and to wish Helen and Glenn well has been unbelievable.”

Homeconomy will be open seven, rather than six days a week. Check out its website here.

Sponsored content

Farsley Celtic partnership — www.farsleyceltic.com

Armley: Meeting to hear update on dilapidated clinic site

By

westleedslife

-

March 13, 2024

0

Plans for the dilapidated and dangerous former Theaker Lane clinic site in Armley will be on the agenda of the next Armley Forum public meeting.

The most recent proposals to demolish the former clinic and build 18 apartments on the site were submitted to Leeds City Council for approval in July 2022 – but the plans are still awaiting a final decision.

The derelict site, on Theaker Lane, off Armley Town Street, has sat empty for many years and has been subjected to vandalism, arson and anti-social behaviour. It’s been branded locally as an ‘eyesore’. Council planning officer Michael Doherty will provide an update on the latest developments at the site at the meeting.

Previous unsuccessful plans for the Theaker Lane clinic site include a 22-bed hostel with six kitchens in 2016. The building was subject to an arson attack in 2018, dubbed at the time by Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves as a ‘wake up call’ for Leeds City Council to properly secure the building.

Other agenda items include an update on Armley Town Street developments from highways officer David O’Donaghue, as well as the regular crime and housing updates.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, 19 March 2024, 7pm at Armley Hub. All welcome to attend.

Sponsored content

Run-down Stanningley Park MUGA and Burley Park tennis courts set for revamp

By

westleedslife

-

March 13, 2024

0

Screenshot 2024-03-05 at 10.14.14 — The MUGA in Stanningley Park will be resurfaced

By John Baron

Councillors in ‘inner’ West Leeds have approved a £36,000 revamp of a run-down multi-use games area (MUGA) in Stanningley Park.

Members of the Inner West Community Committee approved the grant to resurface and re-paint Stanningley Park MUGA, which is in need of improvements to encourage greater community use. Last night’s meeting heard the work will cost £54,000 in total.

Councillors approved a £10,876 grant towards a £108,000 project to revamp the tennis courts in Burley Park.

The grant will be used to resurface and repaint the three courts and replace all net posts and nets, which will bring the courts up to a ‘very good’ standard. Fencing around the courts will also be replaced.

The money came from the council’s community infrastructure levy (CIL) fund, but Councillor Jim McKenna (Lab, Armley) raised concerns that the money would take up much of the CIL budget and that the deprived Armley ward ‘had had very little from CIL’ and told his fellow councillors ‘there are other sources [of funding]’ they could use.

But other councillors pointed out no scheme for CIL money had been put forward for Armley Ward.

Cllr Fiona Venner, (Lab, Kirkstall) said other sources of funding had already been allocated in her ward and added: “You have not put any applications in, Bramley and Kirkstall have put schemes forward.”

Cllr Caroline Gruen (Lab, Bramley & Stanningley) said that the Stanningley Park scheme had been flagged up in advance at the last inner west meeting. “Armley councillors may wish to do the same so we can discuss it,” she added.

Councillors said they would look favourably at any future scheme put forward by Armley councillors.

Other grants approved include:

Kirkstall Art Trail – £4,000.
Kirkstall Festival – £8,000. Eight councillors from all three wards agreed to put forward funds allocated to them as it was felt the event attracted attendees from across West Leeds. £5,000 came from Kirkstall wards, with £1,500 coming from funds allocated to Armley and Bramley & Stanningley wards. Only Cllr McKenna voted against, saying residents in the more deprived parts of Armley were unlikely to travel to the event.
Kirkstall School Transition Club – £2,215 to continue a transition group for those young people living in the Kirkstall area who are in year 6 and will be transitioning into year 7.
The Conservation Volunteers – £8,241 to deliver 22 practical environmental action days with targeted health and wellbeing outcomes.
Friends of Armley and Gotts Park – £2,935 for community events in the park.
Armley Basketball Project – £7,620.
Bramley Youth Clubs – £1,200.
DAZL Bramley Dance Programme 2024 – £3,861 to run weekly creative dance sessions.
Breeze in the Park Event 2024 – Inner West (Bramley, Armley, Kirkstall) – £11,400.

A £12,450 bid from Interplay Theatre Trust for LS12 Creative Project to develop young people’s skills in theatre and film making was deferred for further information.

Members of the Inner West Community Committee also heard that their budget for grants in the next financial year had been reduced by 15%.

The committee is made up of nine councillors from the Armley, Bramley & Stanningley and Kirkstall wards. All nine councillors are Labour. Community representatives also sit on the committee, but have no voting rights.

The meeting was held at The Eric Atkinson Centre in Wellington Gardens, Bramley, and the full agenda can be found here.

Sorry Farsley Celtic slip into relegation dogfight as Warrington take the spoils

By

westleedslife

-

March 13, 2024

0

Michael Coulson Farsley Celtic — Farsley Celtic's Michael Coulson hits the deck against Warrington. Photo: John McEvoy

By John Baron

Farsley Celtic’s wretched run of form continued as they slipped to their third home defeat in a row following a 2-0 reverse against Warrington Town, which left them just five points above the relegation zone.

The Celts were comprehensively beaten, failing to register a shot on target in 90 minutes as they fell to two quick goals just before half time. They have recorded only one win from their last eight league games, and in the 15 games since their win against Gloucester on 23 December they’ve managed three wins, scoring just 12 times.

Particularly worrying for The Celts, who have sat comfortably in mid-table for much of this season, was the tepid manner of recent performances.

George Smith tussles for the ball against Warrington. Photo: John McEvoy

Head coach Clayton Donaldson told club media last night was a “disappointing result and a disappointing game.”

“It’s just not working for us at the moment,” Donaldson said. “We seem to have lost that fight, that bite – that grit – that’s Farsley Celtic. We have gone away from that and it’s about trying to get that part of us back. We are just too easy to play against at the moment. We just need to go back to basics at times, so it’s disappointing really.

“We need to go back to what we were at the start of the season and mid-season – very solid, hard to beat and aggressive. I thought against Rushall, Alfreton and today they have done to us what we normally do to teams.”

David Adewoju on the ball against Warrington. Photo: John McEvoy

Warrington almost took the lead inside the first minute as the lively Connor Woods had his effort cleared off the goal-line, and three minutes later the visitors somehow didn’t score after an almighty goalmouth scramble from a corner. On 13 minutes Woods hit a left-footed volley across goal which trickled narrowly wide.

Farsley’s Ryan Watson blazed well over from a corner, but that was the Celts’ only effort in the first 45 minutes.

Keeper Zan-Luk Leban then denied a close-range Amos header with a fantastic diving save. The resulting corner led to pinball in the Farsley box as Warrington pressed for the opener.

Twelve minutes later the visitors were finally ahead, Woods pouncing on a rebound following a terrific double save from Leban. Three minutes later Warrington doubled their lead when Woods finished from a tight angle.

The second half was a scrappy affair. Farsley’s only chance came on 69 minutes when Tom Allan rose at a corner but couldn’t keep his header down.

Warrington finished the stronger team and could have added a third goal six minutes from time. Buckley-Ricketts rattled the Farsley crossbar from range and the rebound was scrambled home but the referee rightly ruled it out for a foul on Leban. Amos then failed to convert two good chances and Woods just missed out on his hat-trick by dragging his shot narrowly wide in injury time.

Clayton Donaldson interviewed after last night’s game.

The Celts, who have been under a transfer embargo imposed by the National League on 23 February, travel to play-off challengers Boston United on Saturday as they seek to get their season back on track.

Leeds: Plans to slash housing waiting list

By

westleedslife

-

March 13, 2024

1

By Don Mort, local democracy reporter

A chronic shortage of council housing means thousands of people could be removed from the waiting list under changes to the city’s lettings policy.

Leeds City Council launched a consultation on plans to exclude people who are already adequately housed from the social housing register.

The proposal would remove around 18,000 people who currently have a band C or D priority from the waiting list, which currently stands at 27,000.

More than 5,000 people currently have top-priority band A status, but most are waiting more than two years on average to be offered a home.

The council said most people on the register were in band C and had little or no chance of being offered a home.

Jess Lennox, the council’s executive member for housing, said almost 2,500 people had taken part in an online consultation.

She said: “We are proposing to take the steps within our powers to help as many people in our city as we possibly can, as well as undertaking our own council housing growth project to maximise the numbers of social and affordable housing in the city.”

Options being considered include removing applicants who do not have a local connection to Leeds, and those with savings or other assets of more than £60,000.

The age a person is considered to need their own bedroom could be raised from 16 to 18, and households with dependent children living in high-rise blocks could no longer given priority to move into a house.

The council is also considering a new “direct-let” category, which would see properties given directly to homeless applicants instead of being advertised.

It is hoped the move would reduce spending on temporary accommodation and speed up support for people in a housing crisis.

The length of time people hold a band A or B priority on the register could also be extended from 180 days to a full year.

A report to the council’s Housing Board said: “There is continued pressure on the Leeds Homes Register.

“This has contributed towards average wait times for someone with band A status increasing to 146 weeks, creating significant pressures to the system, with increasing numbers of households in temporary accommodation or supported accommodation who no longer require support and are urgently awaiting move on.”

An online consultation will be open until March 28 before a final report on the proposals is drawn up in the summer. The government has been carrying out a separate national consultation on social housing allocations.

Fears Newlay Weir work ‘could be years away’

By

westleedslife

-

March 12, 2024

1

fish-pass-newlay-weir-September-2021 — High and dry: The fish pass at Newlay Weir, as photographed by Bramley History Society’s Roger Cliff in September 2021.

By John Baron

Campaigners calling for the removal of an ‘eyesore’ fish pass next to the remains of historic Newlay Weir fear ongoing legal action could mean a resolution could be years away.

As previously reported by WLD, 332-year-old Newlay Weir was badly damaged during Storm Christophe three years ago, which led to large parts of the weir being washed down the River Aire. An independent report confirmed two years ago that the construction of a fish pass at the same time is likely to have contributed towards the Grade II Listed weir being badly damaged during the storm.

Since then, members of Newlay Conservation Society have been calling for the concrete fish pass at the side of what remains of the weir to be demolished. And they are now concerned that unspecified legal action – understood to be between a riparian landowner and the Environment Agency – could mean there will be no movement on the issue in the foreseeable future.

Newlay Weir and fish pass. Photo taken March 2024 by Susan Tellum

“It’s frustrating,” said Martin Hughes, who is chair of Newlay Conservation Society. “We are left with a fish pass that sits out of the water and is completely unnecessary now the weir has been partly washed away. The fish pass is an eyesore with no water running through it and is a magnet for anti-social behaviour in the summer.

“People stand on the bridge and look one way at the ongoing flood defence work and then look the other at the ugly fish pass and what is left at the weir and they say ‘what is going to happen to the weir and fish pass’?

“I’m afraid we are looking at nothing happening for a very long time and we will be talking about this in another three years.”

Mr Hughes fears that the issue will be allowed to ‘just drift’ by the Environment Agency and Leeds City Council.

He added: “People feel what’s left of the old weir should be conserved if it’s not going to be restored. People want to see the fish pass – which no longer has water running along it, is doing nothing and is a lump of concrete – demolished, but that will inevitably be an expensive business.”

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said they could not comment on the matter as it is subject to ongoing legal proceedings.

Damaged: Newlay Weir in February 2021. Photo: Mark Stevenson

At the time of the collapse in 2021 work was being carried out on the Heritage Lottery-funded £2.7 million DNAire project to install fish passes at Newlay, Armley, Kirkstall and Saltaire.

The Larinier fish pass along the right bank of Newlay Weir was designed to allow passage over the weir for salmon and sea trout which migrate from the Humber Estuary to the headwaters of the River Aire.

The Newlay goit situated in Rein Road, Newlay, was created in the 12th century on land given by Nigel de Horsforde for the monks to provide power for their cornmill at Kirkstall Abbey. Newlay Weir was built in about 1690 to provide increased flow of water to the goit for improved power for Kirkstall Forge.

Follow WLD‘s ongoing coverage of Newlay Weir here.

Evening bus services resume in Farnley following attacks

By

westleedslife

-

March 12, 2024

0

A bus operator has resumed evening services in Farnley after two of its vehicles saw vandals throw objects at windows on 4 and 5 March.

First pulled its 15 and 42 buses from Old Farnley after 7pm.

Although no-one was hurt in either incident, bthe company condemned the attacks as “mindless vandalism”.

As reported by WLD, evening services were first suspended last Wednesday, but a First spokesperson said “normal service resumed” in the area on Friday.

Lower Wortley Methodist Church up for sale

By

westleedslife

-

March 12, 2024

0

The former Lower Wortley Methodist Church building on Branch Road is available to buy for £275,000.

The empty building, which dates back to 1884, is listed for sale ‘with development potential’ on the commercial property website Loopnet and is being earmarked as being suitable for business, educational or religious re-use.

The listing describes the 5,843 sq ft building as: “Lower Wortley Methodist Church is a classic late 19th century Methodist chapel design. It is a rectangular building of solid stone construction. The church fronts Branch Road and there is a small single storey stone extension, dating from the late twentieth century, to its southern side.”

More details can be found here.

Churchgoers now worship at Whingate Methodist Church in Armley.

Sponsored content

In photos: Kirkstall flood defences and Bramley play

By

westleedslife

-

March 12, 2024

0

Work on the flood defences along the banks of the River Aire in Kirkstall and Newlay is continuing.

Photographer Susan Tellum captured some of the latest work on the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) scheme, which, as WLD reported last year, was due to be finished in 2022 but had also run into a series of delays including a series of technical and on-site difficulties, as well as managing inflationary costs attached to the multi-million pound scheme.

Once completed, the scheme will protect homes and businesses to prevent a repeat of the Boxing Day 2015 floods, which saw parts of the Kirkstall Valley under water when the River Aire broke its banks.

Photographer Susan Telllum captured the latest of flood defences with her camera – along with parts of Bramley – below:

Fine for Bramley builder filmed illegally dumping waste

By

westleedslife

-

March 11, 2024

0

A builder caught on camera dumping and illegally storing construction waste in a rat-infested bin yard has been hit with a fine and suspended prison sentence.

Magistrates in Leeds heard that David Dixon, of Nansen Grove, Bramley, was spotted illegally tipping waste from his white Ford Transit van and was filmed by an eagle-eyed neighbour fed up with the mess and nuisance he was creating.

After the footage was passed to Leeds City Council’s serious environmental crime team, they identified Dixon’s vehicle before tracing him and prosecuting him.

The court heard that Dixon, who was also convicted of fly tipping in 2010, failed to co-operate with the investigation and didn’t attend court on several occasions. He was finally arrested by West Yorkshire Police and appeared in Leeds Magistrates Court on 28 February.

He was sentenced to six weeks imprisonment suspended for six months. Due to having outstanding court fines he was also ordered to pay £145 in costs and a victim surcharge of £154.

During the investigation it was found that Dixon didn’t hold a waste carrier licence to transport waste as part of his business. The bin yard used to dump and store the waste was also infested with rats.

As part of his defence Dixon stated that the bin yard was owned by his sister, and he was allowed to dump waste in there. However, council environmental enforcement officers found there was no environmental permit or exemption allowing the depositing and storage of waste in the bin yard and therefore the dumping was illegal and unsafe. They also found that the bin-yard did not belong to his sister.

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: “I’m proud of the work Leeds is doing to combat fly tipping in our city and grateful to those residents who are playing their part, whether that is making sure that they check who takes their waste away or providing important information to help us track and convict fly tippers.

“We have a zero-tolerance approach to environmental crime and I hope this particular prosecution is a warning to anyone thinking about fly tipping their business waste.

“We know that most people want to dispose of their waste correctly, and we will soon be formally launching an innovative accreditation scheme for Leeds to help residents find someone trusted.”